Seals



July s, 1960 Filed July 16, 1957 R. T. CAHILL ETAL 2,943,872 SEALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 5, 1960 R. 11cm-LL ErAL 2,943,872

SEALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1957 INVEN c/zardf@ NM, MN. om W, Nl

cating purposes.

SEALS Richard T. Cahill, Arlington Heights, and Edward A.

Wheelock, Lake Zurich, Ill., assignors to Chicago Rawhide Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed July i6, 1957, Ser. No. 672,325 14 Claims. (Cl. 286-11) :a surface such as that provided by a mating ring which :may be self-contained with the sealing ring within the :casing member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an :improved end face rotary type seal having a sealing ring mounted within a casing member for end face sealing yeugagement with a surface, the casing member holding States Patent the sealing ring against rotation relative thereto -while permitting eccentric movement of the ring4 within the lcasing, the ring being provided on at least one Vperipheral :surface thereof Ywith cushioning means for` cushioning :abutment action between the ring and the adjacent inner :surfacesof the casing member toprevent damage to the :sealing ring as a result of eccentric movement of the .samewithinfthe casing member.

A further object is to provide improved forms of fend face rotary type seals wherein a casing member con- Ltains therein a sealing ring and mating ring,` the rings being in end face sealing engagement, the sealing ring being fixed by the casingl against rotation relative thereto while being free within the casing for eccentric movement therein into abutment with the adjacent inner :surfaces of the casing, cushioning means being,- provided =on the sealingV ring to absorb abutment contact forces :upon eccentric movement of the same Within the `casing member, the engaged sealing surfaces of thesealing ring :and mating ring each Vcarrying aligned groovesffor lubri- VStill a further object isf to provide improved forms of -fend face rotary type seals wherein a casing.- member car- Iries axially movable sealing and` mating rings, iny end :face sealing engagement, the sealing, ringbeing held by `,the casing member againstrotation relative thereto-While rbeing'free to move eccentrically therein into contact with the inner surfaces of the casingmember, the sea'lln-g ring carrying cushioning means on thefirmer and/or outer peripheral surfaces thereofto cushion abutment between conjunction with-the' drawings wherein? Fig. l is a sectional view: offene-form ofimproved end Vface rotary type seal of the present invention;- vEig. 2 is'y anVV endelevation/of the-seal Yof Fig, l` as 'VieWedtowardt-hegleftinFig; 1;

. Fig l3,- is a sectional viewoi another form: of improved end facerotaryftype seal invention; and,r

Y .'Eig. 4fis: end. face ,elevationol?.` the seal of AITig.3 t"as viewed toward the left in Fig. 3.l

forming a part of thepresent The seal 10 of Figs. 1 and 2 and the seal 11 of Figs'. 3 and 4 are of identical structural arrangement insofar as the basic features are concerned. Each Vof the seals basically correspond to known structural designs of end face rotary type seals and the structural featuresl conrmon to both of the seals 10 and 11 are merely illustrative of the general type of oil seal which is improved by incorporating the principles of the present invention. In describing the structural features of the seals I0 and l1', the same reference numerals will be used to identify similar parts.

The seals 10 and 11 include an annular casing member 12 which carries therein a sealing ring 13 anda mating ring i4. The casing member 12 is generally U-shaped in cross section and opens axially toward the mating ring 14. The casing member 12 is formed from integrally joined wall portions including a radially Vdireczt'ed end wall 15, an axially directed inner wall 16 and an axially directed outer wall 17. The sealing ring is provided with a radial sealing face i8 which is held in rubbing sealing engagement with a radial sealing face 19 ofthe mating ringV 14. Each of the sealing faces`18 and' i9 carries a circumferentially continuous arcuate groove 20 and 2i respectively which are laligned Whenthe endfac'es 'are in abutment to provide a lubricant retaining chamber located centrally of the sealing area afforded by the rings 13 and 14., The grooves 2li and 21 serve to provide for extended area lubrication of the endfaces 18 and i9 to reduce frictional wear therealong during use of the seals iii and '11, the quantity of lubricant supplied being insumcient to interfere with eilicient'sealing'action between the rings i3` and le. As illustrated in connection with the seal li?, the aligned grooves 20 and ZI may carry a lubricant-containing packin'gZZ if desired. The sealing ring i3 is pro'videdwith` a. plurality A'of spaced, rearwardly opening spring retaining holes or seats 23 in the rear face thereof which seat thereinv a plurality of circumferentially spaced coilsprings 24, the opposite ends of each of the springs being suitably seated against the inner surface of the end wall 15 of the casing member l2.. The mating ring. 1'4 Vis provided withfa circumgferentially continuous, radially outwardly proie'cting shoulder 25 which is received' within the casing 12 and held therein by a radially' inwardly turnedv flange 26 formed integral with the free end of the outermosbwall 11 of the casing member 12. The inner diameter of.r the circumferential ange 26 is lessthan Vthe outer' diameter of the shoulder portion Z5 ofv the mating ring1`4's`ozas to overlap the same andL contain the mating`nir1`g4within the casing member 12. With thisV arrangement the seals 10 and 11 are self-contained and the coil springs 24 urge thev sealingring 11": vintoerid face abutmentwith themating ring i4, the total axial movement of the sealing ring 13 within vthe casing member l2 being limited` by abutment between the mating ringY Vand the llange 26,..

The mating ring 14 is further provided1 with ara'dia'lfy inwardly directed shoulder-like rib 27 which mountsthei'eon a` radially acting sealing gasket 2S"for engagement 'with a shaft or suitable cylindrical surface' to' be'seale'd thereby. The gasket 28 is` further heldrelativeto' the mating ring 14 by pin-like projections 23 integrally formed onthe outer face of thelmating ringllandfeirtending through slots or grooves.V formed in'fthe radially directed mounting portion ofthe gasket 2S intlieknown manner. If the mating ringlfi is mounted ou:` a shaftby means of the gasket 23, theri'ng will rotate relativeito the housing 12 which would be held against rotationlziil a shaft housing by pins 29 suitably attached in ailcnown rotating shaft housingjournalling a fixed Vshaft to rotate the' 12 relative to the mating ring' =14 whichrwould then be mounted on a fixed surface such Yas a portion of the fixed shaft. Regardless of the manner in which the ,seals k and 11 are used,'one of the rings 13 and 14 rotates relativeto'the other to provide a moving orrub- Ahing Yendface sealing action between the abutting sealing faces20and21.., L t

t, i Inordertoprovide for Vthe type of operation described,

the Vsealing ring 13 isxed against rotation relative to the annular spring collar 33 against the inner surface of the end Wall 1S of the casing member 12. The spring collar .33 is held in place within the casing Vmember 12 byrabutment atrthe remaining end'thereof with the inner surfaces of the radial ange 26. The spring collar 33 is tensioned upon theassembly 'of the seals 10and 11 to Vtightly anchor -the end `of the diaphragm 32 in contact therewith within the casing member 12. The'rernaining end of the diaphragm 32 is suitably. attached to recessed surfaces formed in the outer peripheral portionA of the sealing ring 13 in accordance with'conventional practices.

The diaphragmr-32exes in response toraxial movement Y lof thesealingv rlng13 within the casingmember 12.Y f the 'structure shown, the seals 10 and 11 are further Y Y'provided with anrencl 4facegasket 34 jiapertured to `be mounted by the pins 29 onthe outer face which is suitably ofradial wall 15 ofthe casing member '12. 1 The gasket 3.4Y provided with radially spaced sealing ribs 35 which.

'engage the radial surface on which the casing member Y12 is 'mounted by 'reason of the pins 29.

One important .structural feature of the seals 10 and i llljhasalready been described in connection with the Y provision `of the lubrication extending grooves 20 and `21 carried by the Vsealing faces 18 andt19; Another important structural feature providing for improved operaftion of the seals 10 and 11 is the provision of a mating Yring end'face sealing surfaceV 19 which is of substantially greater radial dimension thanthe end face sealing surfaceY 18 lof the sealing ring 13;` The sealing face 19 thus Y Iboth radially outwardly andradially inwardly' substantially overlaps the sealing face 18'and upon eccentric movement or radial displacement of one'Y of the Vrings relative to the other within the casing member 12, 'the requisite sealing area will be completely maintained with- ;out loss of etliciency in the operation' of. the seals 10 audl-l.V j 'w '.'Ihesealing ring V13 while being fixed against rotation vrelative to lthe casing member 12 carrnevertheless'move -eccentrically thereto within the casing 12. Uponieccentric movement. of the sealing jring 13,Y the sealing face 1.18 lthereof Willslidepradially along the sealing face 19 YVof the mating` ring 1-4; If eccentric mounting or movement of the sealing ring 13 should result in 'anloverhang- .ing ofaY portion of the sealing face'18 thereof, the total Y:eective endiface sealing area would be reduced tothe Y Y "extent of the 4area of thesealng facelS overhangingY the'sealing face 19.. In order to prevent such an occur- VIrence*whichresults inv aV loss in sealing eiciency, the sealing face 19 of the mating ring 14 is provided with a '4 Y with metallic surfaces and it has been found that Veccentric movement of the sealing ring 13 Within the casing member 12 can result in breakage of the same when the Y sealing ring 13 sharply abuts and adjacent inner surface of the casing member 12.Y In order to prevent breakage of this type, a resilient cushion is applied to at least one peripheral surface of the sealing ring 13 .to cushion abutment of the same with an adjacent inner surface of the casing member 12. The resilient cushion may be placed on either theY inner Vor outer peripheral surface ofthe sealing ringV 13 or, `if desired, may be carried by both peripheral surfaces.

As shown in Fig. 1,'the seal circumferentially continuous resilient cushion 36 which lar diaphragm 32 which is rclamped at one end by an Y is formed integral with the end of the, diaphragm 32VY attached to the outer peripheral portion of the sealing ring 13. 'I'he cushion 36 is provided with suicient Vradial thickness to be maintained vin close association with,

the inner surface of the spring collar 33 and uponslight eccentric movement of the sealing ring 13 relative to the k casing member 12, abutment between the outer surface of the cushion 36 and the inner surface ofthe spring collar 33 results. The spacing is such that cushioning abutment occurs prior to metal-to-metal contact between the inner periphery of the sealing ring 13 and the inner surface ofthe inner wall 16 of the casing meinber12.

With the provision of the cushion 36 alongjthe outer Y peripheral surface of thezsealingl ring 13, noYmetalfto- Vmetal contact willoccur between rthe outer Vportionvof .j Y Y Vthe sealing ring 13 Yand theV adjacentinner portion ofl fthe casing member 12. Y f s 1ifrhesea1 v11 `rofriig. sie; prvided with irenmieieiii 'Y tially continuous"resilientYcushion 37 (suitably attached to Ithe inner Yperiphery ofthe sealingring 13 inV close as so-v ciationv with thef inner surface fof the inner wall'1'6lof the Icasing member 12. YThe-cushion31 is'owed into.

the grooves 31 to retain theirv cooperative function'with the locking lugs 30 carried by the sealing ring 13 while' at the same time preventing metal-to-metal abutment befl tween opposed surfaces of the same Y upon eccentric movementof the sealing ring `13 within the casing ,mein-Y ber 12.' The radialthickness of the cushion 37 is such that thejfree surface of the same will contact the adjacent surface of Vthe inner wall 16 prior to contactY between the outerYperipheral surfacev of the matingY ring t '13 with the adjacent surfaces of the casing member 12. YWhile the resilient cushions 36 and 37 can'both be ap- Y plied to lthe Vsealing ring 13 as illustrated inrFig. 3 where- Y "in the cushion'36 is shown in broken lines as an integralV part of the diaphragm 32, it has been found that the Y Yuseof one' or the other is fully adequate to prevent-opsubstantial radial areazwhich overlaps the sealing face .'18 ,of .the sealing ring V13 both at the outer diameter and inner diameter. f

Y-'InYthe manufacture ofthe seals 10 `and 11, it is preferable A.to east ringsY Y13 and 14 in order i0 maintain the. Y manufacturing costs at al minimum. Y' Cast rings are more susceptible'ftobreakag'e upon `Vabutment contact lerational damage to the sealing ring =13. While Ythe cushions 36 and 37`have been described as being circumferentially continuous, it will be apparent Vthat, a -plurality of separate varcuate pads may be used to provide the same desirable result. The use ofthe cushion 36 t is particularly desirablein that it may be readily formed during-the molding operation followed in forming the flexible diaphragm 32; No extra assembly Vstep is necessary Y"to apply theY cushion 36 to the sealing ring 13Yas the Vsame will kautomatically be positioned in Yitsfoperative io i5 provided with aV t llocation uponV attachment vofthe diaphragm 7,32 tothe Y.,

'outer peripheralportion of the sealing ring113.

Obviously many modifications and variations ofther invention as hereinbefore set' forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof,` and Y therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are f -indicated in the appended elaims.`l We claim: Y

1 LAnend face rotary type.seal including ya sealing Y Y VVring fork end face sealingren'gagernent with a surface, a Y

*casingY Vmem/ber mounting said `ring against-'rotation'relative thereto, said sealing ringfbeing.eccentrically'movable within said casing member, a resilient cushionlassof Y ciated with atleast 911e -lpe1'ipluiral-surfaceofr` saidl'sealing n .relatively rotatable rings in end face sealing engagement,

a casing member'mountingl said rings therein one of said; rings being held against rotation relative thereto, said one ring being eccentrically movable within said casing member, and a resilient cushion associated with at least one peripheral surface of said one ring to cushion abutment between said: one and the adjacent inner surface of said casing member, said cushion being spaced from saidV adjacent inner surface upon concentric positioning of said one' ring in said casing member.n

3. An end face rotary vtype sealincluding a pair o f relatively mutable rings in end fate. Sealing engagement, a casing member mounting said rings therein with one of said rings being held againstv rotation relative thereto, said one ring being eccentrically movable within said casing member, and a resilient cushion associated with at least one peripheral; surface of said one ring to cushion abutment between s aidone ring andthe adjacent inner surface of said casing member, said cushion being spaced from said adjacent inner surface upon concentric p ositioning of said oneV rin-gin said casing member, the*y sealing faces of said rings each4 carrying grooves therein in` register with one another for lubrication extending purposes. Y

4. An end face rotary type seal including a sealing ring and a mating ring in end face sealing engagement, a casing member mounting said rings therein with said sealing ring being held against rotation relative thereto, said sealing ring being eccentrically movable within said casing member, and a resilient cushion associated with at least one peripheral surface of said sealing ring to cushion l abutment between said sealing ring and the adjacent inner surface of said casing member, said cushion being spaced from said adjacent inner surface upon concentric posi-V tioning of said sealing ring in said casing member.

5. An end face rotary type seal including a `sealing ring and a mating ring in end face sealing engagement, a casing member mounting said rings therein with said sealing ring being held against rotation relative thereto, said sealing ring being eccentrically movable -within said casing member, and a reslient cushion carried by the inner peripheral surface of said sealing ring to cushion abutment between said sealing ring and the adjacent inner surface of said casing member, said cushion being spaced from said adjacent inner'surface upon concentric positioning of said sealing ring in said casing member.

6. An end face rotary type seal including a sealing Iring and mating ring in end face sealing engagement, a casing member mounting said rings therein with said sealing ring being held against rotation relative thereto, said sealing ring being eccentrically movable within said casing member, and a resilient cushion carried by `the outer peripheral surface of said sealing ring to cushion abutment between said sealing ring and the adjacent inner surface of said casing member, said cushion being spaced from said adjacent inner surface upon concentric positioning of said sealing ring in said casing member.

7. An end face rotary type seal including a sealing ring and mating ring in end face sealing engagement, a casing member mounting said rings therein with said sealing ring being held against rotation relative thereto, said sealing ring being eccentrically movable within said casing member, and a resilient cushion carried by at least one peripheral surface of said sealing ring to cushion abutment between said sealing ring and the adjacent inner surface of said casing member, said cushion being spaced from said adjacent inner surface upon concentric positioning of said sealing ring in said casing member, the sealing faces of said rings'each carrying grooves therein in register with one another for lubrication extending purposes.

`8.V An end face fot-ary type sealincluding a sealing nng and mating ring in V`end face sealing engagement, a casing member mounting said rings therein with said sealing ring being held against rotation relative thereto,l said sealing ring being eccentrically movable Within. said casing member, and a resilient cushion 'carriedby at least one peripherall surface of said sealing ringto cushion abutment between said sealing ring land` the adjacent inner surface of said casing member, said cushion being spaced from said adjacent inner surface upon concentric posaitioning of said sealing ring in said casing member, the sealing face of said mating ring overlapping that of said sealingn'ng to maintain full sealing area functioning during eccentric movement of one of said rings relative to the other.

9. An end face rotary type seal including a sealing ring and mating ring in end face sealing engagement, a casing member mounting -said rings'therein with said sealing ring being held against rotation relative thereto, said sealing ringV beingy eccentrically movable Within said casing member, and a resilient cushion carried by at least one peripheral surface of saidseali'ng ring to cushion abutment between said sealing ring and the adjacent inner surface of said casing member, said cushion being spaced from said adjacent inner surface upon concentric. positioning of said sealing ring in said' casing'v member, the sealing faces of said rings each carrying grooves Ytherein in` register with one-another forlubrication'extending piu"- poses, thev sealing face of said mating ring overlapping that of said sealing ring to maintain full sealing area functioning during eccentric movement of one of said rings relative to the other.

10. An end face rotary type seal including a sealing ring and mating ring in end face sealing engagement, a casing member mounting said rings therein with said sealing ring being held against rotation relative thereto, said sealing ring being eccentrically movable within said casing member, a resilient cushion associated with the outer peripheral surface of said sealing ring to cushion abutment between said sealing ring and the adjacent inner surface of said casing member, said cushion being spaced from said adjacent inner surface upon concentric positioning of said sealing ring in said casing member, and an annular flexible diaphragm interconnecting said casing member with the outer peripheral portion of said sealing ring, the end of said diaphragm attached to said sealing ring having the resilient cushion formed integrally thereto.

ll. An end-face rotary type seal including a `sealing ring and mating ring in end face sealing engagement, a casing member mounting said rings therein -with said sealing ring being heldagainst rotation relative thereto, said sealing ring being eccentrically movable Within said casing member, a resilient cushion carried by the inner peripheral lsurface of said sealing ring to cushion abutment between said sealing ring and the adjacent inner surface of said casing member, said cushion being spaced from said adjacent inner surface upon concentric positioning of said sealing ring `in said casing member, the sealing faces of said rings each carrying grooves therein 1n register with oneY another for lubrication extending purposes, the sealing face of said mating ring overlapping that of said sealing ring to maintain full sealing area functioning during eccentric movement of one of said rings relative to the other, and resilient spring means urging said sealing ring into engagement with said mating 12. Vencl face rotary type'seal includingv aA sealing rmg and mating ring in end face sealing engagement, a. casing member mounting said rings therein with said casing member, a resilient cushion carried by the outer peripheral surface of saidsealing ring to cushion abut-r ment between said sealing ring andthe adjacent surface of said casing member, said cushion being spaced Vfrom ring and saidsealing ring in .said casing member, the seali'n'grfaesA one yanotherV for lubrication extending lpt ,lrposeslgthe: seab` ing face of Ysaidrnating rrnggoverlapping :thatrofsaid sealing to maintain ffuil` `sealing Yfarea functioning duringeceentric movementY of one of saidV rings relative to thefothertresilientspring means urging said sealing ring Y into vengagement y"with said mating ring, .and anY annular iexibl'e 'diaphragm interconnecting said. easing member withtheouterperipheral portion of said sealing ring, the end Y l ing saidfresilient cushion formed integrally thereto.

, t 13.- Anendface rotaryv type seal including a sealing mating ring 1n Y beingtspaced from said adjacent inner surfaces uponrconcentric positioning of said sealing ring in -saidicasring t member.Y f

14;.1A11MendV face rotary type seal Yincluding a sealing Y mating Vendfae,sealing engagement, a

casing membermountingfsaid rings thereinwith said seal# t of saidV diaphragm attached Ato'saidsealing'ring havend face sealing engagement, a Y casing member mounting saidv rings therein :with -said Yof said Yrings eachcarryinggrooyes therein in register with insfrnabensfheld against otaion relatvethereto; said Y memben: resilient cushions carried byjt lv1e,. inner andante;

PelipheralI Surfaces 10,15' Said ,Sealingiina toeushien ahnte ment between said sealing ring and the'adiacentinner s rfaces `ofi Vsaidycasng member, -saidgcushionsyvbeing 1 spac'ed froni said adjacentfinner Ysurfacesmponconcentric i rpositioningrof, said Yseallng ringin ksaid Ycasing member,V

thersealing faces of said rings each carrying grooves therein inA--register with 4oneA another for ,Y lubrication jextending purposes,fthe sealing face of said mating ring overlapping that of said-sealing to. maintain during ecentric;` movement of Sealing yarea functioning Y one. of vvsaid ringsY relative ..to.the. other, resilient spring in 'ansfurging said sealing into engagement withsaid Y mating' ring,- :and an annular. exible diaphragm-v Y inter-iY connecting saidcasingmember .with the outer peripheralV portion ofv saidsealing ring, the end ofsaid diaphragm attached toY :said sealing ring r.having the outer lresilient cushion formed integrally therewith.; -Y Y i'. References Cited the fileY of this patent Y Y UNITED; STATES-PATENTS 1 

